CHRIS KELLY staff Masio Febles sings along with Grupo Caribe at the Spanish-American Festival in Keyport on Saturday. See page 3 for story. More ... 18 homes approved on historic farm Developer scaled plan way down, will donate 60 acres to Holmdel BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       Ten years, three design approvals and two zoning changes later, Holmdel has granted developers the right to divide a historic 90-acre farm into 18 single-family homes. On Aug. 7, the Planning Board unanimously passed a resolution approving all necessary variances relating to develop... More ... Uncommon 'Reflections' on the mundane       The Monmouth Museum is presenting the second installation in the New Jersey Emerging Artists Series in its Nilson Gallery. Paul Lenz of Colts Neck, the second artist in the series, will show his photographs in an exhibit titled "Reflections," which will run through Sept. 9. More ... Matawan disappointed with state aid figure Faced with higher taxes, officials highlight cost-saving measures BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       MATAWAN - Faced with another major property tax increase, officials focused on the positive last week, highlighting ways the borough is working to cut back on costs. On Aug. 8, it was announced that the borough received only $100,000 of the requested $350,000 extraordinary state ai... More ... Keyport, Union Beach connected by new bridge       KEYPORT - A new Stone Road bridge spanning Chingarora Creek and connecting Keyport to Union Beach opened Thursday after being closed for construction since October 2006. The bridge represents one of 16 in Monmouth County termed "structurally deficient" that have been replaced in the pa... More ... VFW fundraiser for Middletown child Aug. 25       Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post No. 2179 and its Ladies Auxiliary, 1 Veterans Lane, Port Monmouth section of Middletown, will hold a fundraiser for Riley Franklin, Middletown, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. Riley is a 5-year-old undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia; he was diagn... More ... Bridge advocates call on state to repair span Group claims repairs would extend life of bridge for years BY LIZ SHEEHAN Correspondent       The state should begin repairing the drawbridge that connects Sea Bright and Highlands, local group Citizens for Rational Coastal Development said in a press release issued Aug. 2. Shirley Olman, co-chair of the bridge advocacy group, said in the statement, "The state has refused to... More ... Map-making to be focus of talk Aug. 22       BRAVO (Battlefield Restoration and Archaeological Volunteer Organization) will feature re-enactors from the 3rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry to speak at its monthly membership meeting Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Old Scots Hall on the grounds of the Old Tennent Presbyterian Church, Tennent Road, ... More ... Beauty on the inside and out      ERIC SUCAR staff Admirers check out a 1959 Cadillac during a fundraiser for 180, Turning Lives Around held at Middletown Plaza, Route 35, Saturday. More ... Local art teacher's works on display at town hall       HOLMDEL - Brush-stroked scenes of New Jersey landscapes and elsewhere will grace the Holmdel Township Gallery this month as local painter Nessa Neilson Morse displays her latest exhibit. The display will feature about nine pastel and watercolor paintings, showcasing scenes as nearby as... More ... Keyport enjoys tastes and sounds of Latin America BY LAUREN PIRO Correspondent       KEYPORT - Latino culture embraced the Keyport waterfront Saturday, as the Spanish American Club celebrated its annual festival. The aroma of Peruvian chicken, empanadas and barbecued pork wafted with the bay breeze through the park as Spanish-language music played in the background. More ... Keyport passes budget with 6-cent tax increase Sheridan says more could have been done to keep taxes down BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       KEYPORT - Unlike most towns in Monmouth County, Keyport received an extraordinary state aid package last week. Still, the extra cash isn't nearly enough to keep taxes from rising, officials say. On Aug. 6, Keyport officials announced they received $100,000 of the $300,000 they requ... More ... Two indicted on robbery, attempted murder charges Men allegedly stabbed Middletown bike shop owner on Christmas Eve BY JOHN SUTTON Correspondent       FREEHOLD - A Monmouth County grand jury returned an indictment charging two men with the first-degree crimes of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, and attempted murder, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. More ... Twp. hires 3 new officers       MIDDLETOWN - Three new police officers received ceremonial oaths of office during the Aug. 6 Township Committee meeting. Keith R. Hirschbein, 31, is a lifelong resident of Middletown and a Middletown High School North graduate. Hirschbein, who is married and has two children, had been ... More ... Mayor to Short: Resign Group's lone Democrat says Republican majority can't handle his dissent BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - Contending Committeeman Patrick Short has bashed the Township Committee on numerous occasions and has put his political party ahead of his own town, Mayor Gerard Scharfenberger publicly called for Short's resignation last week. More ... Youth to be remembered through charity bike ride Timmy's Tour de Shore Oct. 7; registration day at shopping center Aug. 25 BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - At 10 years old, Timothy Pauxtis was like most kids his age, enjoying riding his bike after school and making the occasional trip to the beach. But he was also unlike those his age in that he was overtaken by an inoperable brain tumor, and eventually succumbed to it on... More ... Matawan mulls options for future water supply Must decide whether to invest in aging plant or buy from elsewhere BY KAREN E. BOWES Staff Writer       MATAWAN - Water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink. The borough hopes to avoid this ironic situation by making a relatively quick decision regarding its municipal water plant. The aging facility, capable of pumping out 199 million gallons of water a year, suffers from a pro... More ... From the Vault      Public works employees in Middletown protest in front of town hall what they consider to be unfair pay. The date of the photo could not be determined. More ... Pa. firm chosen to install turf at North Some parents wary of company's lack of track record locally BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer       MIDDLETOWN - After multiple rounds of bidding which lasted nearly six weeks, Mondo U.S.A. will construct the heavily anticipated artificial grass field at High School North. At a special meeting Thursday, the bid was awarded to the Pennsylvania-based company at a cost of $753,000. More ... Art off the wall (& out of the saloon) BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer       An exhibition at the Art Alliance of Monmouth County in Red Bank by Wayne Turback is his first since selling the South Amboy bar where for many years he had a venue for his paintings and assemblages. "The bar was my gallery pretty much," said Turback, a member of the Art Alliance. "I ... More ... Elie Wiesel to speak in Lakewood on Nov. 4       LAKEWOOD - Georgian Court University, the Strand Theater and the Jewish Federation of Ocean County will present "Against Indifference," an afternoon with Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel on Nov. 4 at 1:30 p.m. at the Strand Theater. More ... Two indicted on robbery, attempted murder charges Men allegedly stabbed Middletown bike shop owner on Christmas Eve BY JOHN SUTTON Correspondent       FREEHOLD - A Monmouth County grand jury returned an indictment charging two men with the first-degree crimes of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, and attempted murder, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. More ... Twp. hires 3 new officers       MIDDLETOWN - Three new police officers received ceremonial oaths of office during the Aug. 6 Township Committee meeting. Keith R. Hirschbein, 31, is a lifelong resident of Middletown and a Middletown High School North graduate. Hirschbein, who is married and has two children, had been ... More ...